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Use of AFFF during shipboard drills may be relevant to the assessment of a potential claim. For many years, the U.S. Navy and other maritime organizations used PFAS-containing foam in firefighting training to prepare crews for flammable-liquid fires involving aviation fuel, diesel, and other petroleum products.
Eligibility is based on occupational exposure to PFAS-containing AFFF and a qualifying medical diagnosis, not whether contact happened during an actual emergency or a training exercise.
Shipboard drill exposure wasn't limited to designated firefighters. Personnel who may have taken part in AFFF drills include Damage Controlmen, crash and salvage crews, flight deck personnel, aviation boatswain's mates, fire instructors, and engineering and maintenance personnel assigned firefighting duties. Repeated foam contact occurred over months and years of service, as many service members had recurring drills during their careers.
You may be exposed when:
The evaluation considered the frequency of AFFF handling, the number of years involved in shipboard drills, specific training duties, and whether a qualifying cancer was diagnosed. DD Form 214, military service records, ship assignment history, firefighting certifications, duty assignments, and fellow service member statements can all help document the exposure.
ELG Law has spent over three decades representing individuals affected by toxic chemical exposure. If you handled AFFF during shipboard drills and have since been diagnosed with kidney cancer or testicular cancer, your service records may support a claim. Contact ELG Law for a free case evaluation.